One Child\u27s Story of School-experienced Isolation and Rejection

Abstract For twelve years of school, a tiny girl endured isolation and rejection from her peers most likely due to a physical abnormality. As the girl remembers, the educators in a small, rural school district did little to support her as she was ostracized by her classmates and encourage other children to practice compassion. At times, the educators even participated in the rejection of the child. This is the story of a tiny, brown-eyed little girl who experienced isolation and rejection time and time again. Keywords: isolation, rejection, bullying, abus

Insight for Teacher Preparation Program Administrators: Enhancing Pre-service Educators’ Intercultural Sensitivity and Deep Proficiency in Culturally Responsive Teaching through Short-term Study Abroad

Teacher preparation program administrators face the issue of expanding curricula to prepare teacher candidates for the diverse population of students they will encounter (Trent, Kea, Oh, 2008). Globalization demands that teacher candidates grasp how to function in a more integrated and interdependent society (McGrew, 2005). According to Smith-Davis (2004) students from non-English speaking countries compose the fastest growing United States K-12 student population, and those identified as limited English proficient were over 10 million in 2004. The United States Census reported in the \u27\u27New Census Bureau Report the number of individuals five and older who speak languages other than English at home more than doubled in the past three decades (2010). If teacher preparation program leaders fail to prepare future educators with the dispositions, knowledge, and skills necessary to meet the needs of the nation\u27s school population, the national security and economic development may be hindered, and the position of the United States in the world community may be challenged (Zanh, 2011). Teacher preparation program leaders are faced with how to strengthen teacher candidates\u27 level of intercultural sensitivity and to prepare them to implement culturally responsive pedagogy through course content and other activities (Lin, Lake, & Rice, 2008, p. 188). Integrating multicultural education throughout all courses instead of adding a stand-alone course dedicated to cultural awareness and instruction is one manner to enhance candidates\u27 level of intercultural sensitivity, and this means is supported by many researchers (Cochran-Smith, Davis, & Fries, 2004). Another way to heighten intercultural sensitivity and gain skill in delivering culturally-responsive teaching strategies is through cross-cultural experiences (Foster, 1995; Gay, 2000; McAllister & Irving, 2002; Nieto, 2006). One such cross-cultural experience that deans, department heads, and faculty may explore is short-term study abroad. Short-term study abroad is more affordable and attractive to university students who cannot or will not commit to a semester or yearlong study abroad experience (Donnelly-Smith, 2009). As defined by Donnelly-Smith (2009), short-term study abroad experiences are those where students participate for fewer than eight weeks. These experiences have the potential of positively impacting teacher candidates\u27 intercultural sensitivity (Lawton et al., 2006). DonnellySmith stated that little formal research was displayed in the literature that described study abroad outcomes (2009). The purpose of this paper is to reveal how a short-term study abroad experience affected teacher candidates from a Texas regional university, and thus enhanced their intercultural sensitivity and deepened their knowledge and skill in culturally-responsive teaching strategies. This study was unique from other studies presented in the literature because the focus was how another country implements early childhood education and prepares future teachers. Teacher candidates were afforded an opportunity to compare Italy\u27s early childhood education system to the system they were more familiar with in the United States

Genetic variation and disease in the Roma (Gypsies)

The Roma (Gypsies) are a European people composed of a mosaic of culturally heterogeneous populations. Linguistic analyses point to their origins in the Indian subcontinent. Cultural diversity in extant Romani populations suggests that they are descended from a mixture of Indian populations. Previous population genetic studies of the Roma have supported this claim by demonstrating the genetic heterogeneity of Romani populations. More recently, medical genetic research has detected identical founder mutations in separated Romani populations, which provides evidence of their relatedness. In this thesis, the genetic heritage of the Roma and its significance for genetic disease and research is investigated. Male and female lineages were analysed in eight traditionally endogamous Romani populations. Asian specific Y chromosome haplogroup VI-68 and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup M were detected in all populations and accounted for 39% and 25% of all lineages respectively. Diversity within haplogroups was assessed by genotyping Y chromosome short tandem repeats (YSTRs) and sequencing the mtDNA hypervariable segment 1 (HVSl). Lineages within haplogroups VI-68 and M were found to be closely related suggesting that Romani populations are predominantly descended from a single Indian ethnic population. The differing historical legacies of Romani populations and adherence to endogamous practices have resulted in genetic substructure and limited diversity within populations. Thus, the Roma are shown to comprise a conglomerate of related admixed population isolates. The unique genetic heritage of the Roma provides a powerful tool for the positional cloning of monogenic disease genes. This is demonstrated through the reduction of the critical chromosomal region for a novel genetic disorder, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type Lom (HMSNL). In the initial report, the HMSNL disease locus was defined as a 3cM region on chromosome 8q24. In this study, refined genetic mapping utilising historical and parental recombinations observed in Romani individuals from different populations reduced the HMSNL critical interval to 202kb. Sequence analysis of two genes contained within this genomic interval found all affected individuals to be homozygous for a CT mutation in codon 148 of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRGJ), resulting in a truncating Rl48X mutation. Investigation of the population distribution of the R148X disease allele shows that it occurs in six of eight separated Romani populations. Another founder mutation, C283Y in the y-sarcoglycan gene (SGCG), which causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2C (LGMD2C), was found in two of eight Romani populations. Profound founder effects are apparent within Romani populations with a carrier frequency of 19.5% determined for the R148X mutation in the Lom population, and 6.25% for the C283Y allele in the Turgovzi population. High carrier frequencies for autosomal recessive diseases can be expected to pose a significant health risk for these communities. Thus, community-wide carrier testing represents a potential means of addressing this health problem. A pilot community based carrier-testing program was implemented in a Romani community of north eastern Bulgaria and relevant attitudes assessed by means of a questionnaire. Community-based carrier screening was demonstrated to be an appropriate approach to improving health amongst the Roma

Financially Sustaining University Lab Schools: One University’s Story

University lab schools connected to teacher preparation programs are based on the clinical teaching model. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education encourage teacher preparation programs to extend the hours required in clinical settings for teacher candidates. For years, some teacher preparation programs have championed the clinical teaching model. The university that was the focus of this study has implemented the clinical teaching model for over 87 years. Sustaining this model was not easy but through perseverance, this university did just that. The intent of this study was to determine the organizational practices implemented at this university that aided in financially sustaining university lab schools over time. Through a case study method, the researchers discovered lab schools were sustained by (a) creatively utilizing state funding and regular teacher candidate tuition to assist with lab schools’ support; (b) instituting childcare tuition to help cover costs; (c) using teacher candidate lab fees and including lab school teachers as university faculty

Compensator improvement for multivariable control systems

A theory and the associated numerical technique are developed for an iterative design improvement of the compensation for linear, time-invariant control systems with multiple inputs and multiple outputs. A strict constraint algorithm is used in obtaining a solution of the specified constraints of the control design. The result of the research effort is the multiple input, multiple output Compensator Improvement Program (CIP). The objective of the Compensator Improvement Program is to modify in an iterative manner the free parameters of the dynamic compensation matrix so that the system satisfies frequency domain specifications. In this exposition, the underlying principles of the multivariable CIP algorithm are presented and the practical utility of the program is illustrated with space vehicle related examples

The Curry/Samara Model and The Model Classrooms Project Background and Research Foundations

The Curry/Samara Model(CSM) is an integrated, standards based approach to curriculum development that addresses differentiation from three dimensions (content, process & product). CSM is comprised of strategies related to curriculum, instruction and assessment that helps teachers to: (1) complement factual subject matter with rich, global concepts; (2) foster basic and abstract levels of thinking as related to core content; and (3) engage and assess students through traditional as well as innovative, authentic products

Cooperative Restoration Programs in Critical Habitats in the Upper South Carolina Coastal Region

2008 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Addressing Water Challenges Facing the State and Regio

A solid-reagent dispenser for use in the azocoll protease assay (and other insoluble substrate analyses).

A solid-reagent dispenser for use in the azocoll protease assay (and other insoluble substrate analyses)